Well apparatus



Oct. 31, 1933.

L. J. BLACK WELL APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1950 Oct. 31, 1933. L. J. BLACK 1,932,570

WELL APPARATUS Fuled June 2'7, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. J. BLACK WELL APPARATUS Oct. 31, 1933.

Q4 WWW z ll 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2'7, 1930 Patented Oct. 31, 1933 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL APPARATUS Lee J. Black, Beaumont, Tex.

Application June 27, 1930. Serial No. 464,283

5 Claims. (01. 166-14) My invention relates to improvements in methads and apparatus for the control of oil and gas wells and particularly high pressure wells.

Briefly stated,--the invention has for one of its primary objects to provide a novel method and apparatus for'preventing blow-outs particularly while the well is being drilled,-1the nature of the method and apparatus being such that a well may be quickly sealed at the first indication of a blow-out.

Another object of the invention resides in the novel method of preventing blow-outs and in novel apparatus which enables the operator to flow the well and control the same without removing the drill stem during the interval when the well shows indications of blowing-out.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of novel means for connecting and packing ofi telescoping strings of casing and which also has the function of preventing the buckling of a string of casing while same is being positioned in the hole. 4

A further object is to provide means for actuating the slips to and maintaining them in casing or tubing engaging position to thus prevent lifting of such casing or tubing from internal pressure.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of novel means whereby the flow of oil or gas through different casings and from difierent stratas may be independently controlled or controlled by a single gate valve or equivalent through the last casing.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of novel means for preventing the tubing from being blown out of the well when the pressure therein becomes excessive and dangerous.

. A further object of the invention is to provide flow control apparatus for oil and gas wells including casing and flow control apparatus which when set in position will be below the rotary which drives the drill so as not to interfere with the operation of the rotary and which apparatus will enable the drilling to be carried on as usual.

Still a further object of theinvention resides in the provision of an emergency control unit having means for connection to the drill stem and to the casing for shutting the flow of gas or fiuid through both the casing and drill stem, which unit is made up for instant application at the first indication of a blow-out.

The invention also resides in the provision of primary and secondary blow-out prevention and control means,-the secondary control means comprising a head adapted to be secured to the casing independently of the. primary control means, which is connected to both the casing and the drill stem.

The invention also resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts and in methods of use, all of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. I

It is to be understood that the drawings illustrate what is now regarded as a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it will be manifest that the inventive concept is capable of other mechanical expressions within the spirit and scope of the subject matter claimed hereinafter. i

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating one phase of my invention and showing particularly means to prevent the tubing from being blown out of the well,-this view also showing the means for packing off between the tubing and casing and showing slip means for sustaining and supporting the tubing,

Figure 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section illustratingthe method and apparatus for controlling the fiow of gas or oil from difierent strata;

Figure 3 is a view mainly in elevation, but partly broken and partly in section,--the same showing an emergency well closing set-up which is adapted for instant application to the drill end and innermost casing when a blow-out appears imminent;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of one of the casing carried fiow heads; taken on line 3-3 of Figure 3 and showing the tie rods in section;

Figure 5 is an elevational view partly broken and partly in section to show an emergency cap adapted to be applied to a control head,-this view showing the safety unit of Figure 3 already in place; and

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of -Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, wherein the same reference characters have been used to designate the same parts in all views, Figure 1 illustrates a casing head or body 1 whose end is interiorly threaded for the reception of say will be cemented in the well hole. The head 1 has side outlets 1b which are threaded to receive pipe, not shown, and which pipes would carry gate valves or the like so as to control the flow of gas or fluid therethrough.

The upper end of the casing 1 is interiorly and exteriorly threaded, as indicated 10, 1d,--the interior threads receiving the threaded end of the tapered slip ring 2 in which are set the slips 3 having the manual control eyes 3a.

The interiorly threaded flange 4a of a bonnet 4 is threaded upon the upper end of the silp ring 2, as shown. The upper end of the bonnet 4 is interiorly threaded to receive the threaded sleeve portion of the gland 5 which is adapted to clamp against the packing 9 about the tubing 8. The packing is forced against the steel split packing supporting ring 10 seating upon the shoulder 4b in said bonnet 4. Obviously, by tightening the glands into the upper end of bonnet 4 the packing 9 will be compressed and the space between the tubing 8 and casing 1a efiectually sealed without depending upon the weight of the tubing to accomplish this end.

The wedges 3 have the very important function of preventing buckling of the long string of pipe,the weight, or pull, of the pipe hanging free, or substantially so, seats the wedges and automatically causes-the tubing 8, of Figure 1, to be held and maintained perpendicular in the well hole.

The particular type of tubing illustrated in Figure 1' is what is commonly known as outside upset end tubing. This necessitates that a split gland be used as indicated by reference character 5,-the sections of such gland being bolted together, as indicated at 50.

Numeral '7 indicates a standard tubing coupling, while numeral 6 designates a hold-down cap threaded upon the upper end of gland 5 and having a flange 6a of its upper end surrounding the upper end of couplings '7. Obviously the action of the hold-down sleeve 6 is to prevent the tubing 8 from being blown out of the hole. Manifestly, since the lower end of casing 10. is cemented in the well hole and since the holddown cap 6 is connected to the casing 1a through head 1, ring 2, bonnet 4 and gland 5,the tubing will be effectually maintained against blowing out because to accomplish the end threatened the whole weight of the casing 1a. would have to be lifted by the gas pressure.

Figure 2 illustrates a set up which, while permitting drilling, will also permit the flow of gas and oil from different strata. Here, as will be seen, we have three difierent sizes of casings 15, 16, 17 extending through one another to different depths with tubing 18 extending through casing 1'7. The respective casings are provided with heads 15a, 16a, 17a into the lower end of which heads the upper ends of the respective strings of casing are threaded, as shown. Tapered slip rings 15b, 16b, 171) thread into the upper ends of the respective heads and carry bonnets 15c, 16c, 170, respectively. Packing glands 15d, 16d, 17d are carried by the respective bonnets and acting upon packing 19 to close the space between the bonnet and the next smaller casing or tubing. The slips 20, carriedby the respective slip rings, have control eyes 21 and function the same as slips 3, shown in Figure 1. In fact the assembly disclosed in Figure 2 is substantially identical with the assembly shown in Figure 1, except that in Figure 1 the gland 5 is split by reason of the use of the upset end" tubing 8, and in Figure 2 there is no tubing hold-down can used.

Each casing head is provided at opposite sides with ears 22 through which a. tie rod 23 is adapted to be passed. Nuts 24 on the ends of the tie rods 23 serve to-tie the assembly of heads 15a, 16a, 171i, together as will be apparent.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the upper ends of the casing heads are exteriorly threaded, as indicated at 15c, 16c, 17c, respectively. The advantage of this will be pointed out more specifically later on.

The set up shown in Figure 2 obviously enables oil or gas to be flowed from different strata by means of pipes, (not shown) connected to the side outlets 26 with which each casing head is provided. Also, it will be obvious that the fluid or gas from the larger casings may bedirected into the next inner casing by piping from side outlets 26 of the larger casing to the side outlets 26 of the next smaller casing.

Figure 3 shows the casing 16 of Figure 2 with a gate valve 30 interposed therein and which will serve as a master gate, assuming that the larger casing (see 15, Figure 2) is in communication therewith,-the upper end of the casing 16 being provided with its usual head 16a, and here showing the pipe lines 31 threaded into the side outlets of said casing head,-one of said pipe lines being shown as having a side control gate valve 33.

This Figure 3 shows the drill stem 35 extending through the casing,-the-well being in the process of being drilled.

It is to be assumed from Figure 3 that the crew operating the drilling apparatus has just been given indications that the well is about to blow out. The drill stem 35 has been elevated and broken at point 38 and the drill stem section 40 of a special safety unit has been threaded into the collared upper end of the drill stem. This special unit has the slip ring 42, the bonnet 43, threaded upon the upper end of the slip ring, and the slip ring has the slips 45 with the manual control eyes 46 gripping and engaging the drill section 40. While, the drawings do not disclose in detail, it will be understood that the packing gland 50 threading into the upper end of the bonnet 43 compresses packing to pack off the space between the bonnet and the drill stern section 40. The upper end of the drill stem has therein a gate control valve 54 above which is provided a coupling 56 leaving an elevator shift area therebelow, as indicated at 57.

It will be apparent from Figure 3 that the slip ring 42 is all ready to be screwed into the upper end of the head 1602 so as to efiectually seal oil the well and place it entirely under the control of the master gate valve 54 and the side gate valves 33 carried by the head 16a.

To make doubly certain of the control of the well and as an extra safeguard, I provide the cap 60 which is sectional in form made up of duplicate halves flanged, as indicated and bolted together at 62 upon the packing 63. The neck portion 64 of the cap 60 is interiorly threaded and adapted to engage the exterior threads of the upper end of the casing head 16a, which are shown by reference character 16c.

Thus, it will be seen that Figure 3 provides a primary control or shut-off unit carried in part by the drill stem and in part by the casing head 16a. The cap 60, however, overlies the structure just referred to and is carried wholly bythe casg head and secured to the exterior thereof ,pressure,which is an important point.

whereas the primary safeguard of Figure 3 'is carried or socketed into the head 16a.

Manifestly, the cap 60 may be made in many different sizes corresponding to the heads 15a,

16a, 17a and this also applies to the primary cutoff or safety unit shown in Figure 3.

The cap 60 is particularly adapted as a safeguard where a leak occurs above the lower body of the control head 1, 18a or 16a. The cap 60 has a top closure plate 70 which may be bolted as at 71 to the top flange '72 of the cap. This closure plate '70 has an opening 73 for a control valve (not shown).

Inspection of Figure 1 clearly shows that the bonnet 4 provides a shoulder '75 overlying the upper ends of slips 3 whereby the latter will be forced downwardly to tubing or casing gripping position as the bonnet is screwed down on ring 2. Thus, shoulder 75 prevents lifting of casing (or tubing as the case may be) from internal Similarly, bonnets 150,160, and 170, and bonnet 43 provide shoulders 75 overlying the upper ends of slips 20, 45 respectively whereby when such bonnets are threaded upon their rings the slips will be forced downwardly to work-engaging position and so maintained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a casing head and drill stem working therethrough, of an emergency well sealing unit comprising a drill stem section having an elevator fit, a bonnet upon said drill stem section, a slip ring surrounding said drill stem section and carried by said bonnet, slips carried by said ring for supporting said drill stem section, said slip ring being exteriorly threaded to thread into said casing head, means for sealing the space between said bonnet and said drill stem section, and a master gate valve in said drill stem section below said elevator fit.

2. The combination with a casing head and drill stem working therethrough of an emergency well sealing unit comprising a drill stem section having an elevator fit, a bonnet upon said drill stem section, a slip ring surrounding said drill stem section and carried by said bonnet, slips carried by said ring for supporting said drill stem section, said slip ring being exteriorly threaded to thread into said casing head,'means for sealing the space between said bonnetand said drill stemsection, said casing head being exteriorly threaded, and an emergency cap having a threaded neck and adapted for application to the exterior threads of said casing head whereby to constitute a secondary safeguard to prevent blow-outs.

3. The combination with a casing head and drill stem working therethrough of an emergency well sealing unit comprising a drill stem section having an elevator fit, a bonnet upon said drill stem section, a slip ring surrounding said drill stem section and carried by said bonnet, slips carried by said ring for supporting said drill stem section, said slip ring being exteriorly threaded to thread into said casing head, means for sealing the space between said bonnet and said drill stem section, a master gate valve in said drill stem section below said elevator fit, said casing head being exteriorly threadecLand an emergency cap having a threaded neck and adapted for application to the exterior threads of said casing head whereby to constitute a secondary safeguard to prevent blow-outs.

4. A blow-out prevention unit comprising means for attachment to a drill stem, said means being attachable without removing the stem from the well, a special unit operatively connected to said means including a coupling arranged for detachable engagement with a casing head, a tubing carrier supported within the coupling, and means for sealing the space about the stem attaching means, tubing carrier and coupling.

5. A blow-out prevention unit comprising means for attachment to a drill stem, a special unit operatively connected to said means and including a coupling arranged for detachable engagement with a casing head, a carrier supported within said coupling, a tubing having a master valve, supported by said carrier, and a cap mounted on the upper end of the tubing.

LEE J. BLACK. 

